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Copyright © 2001 Eastern Ontario Farmers Forum Inc. All Rights Reserved |
Talking Civil disobedience
"This is
bigger than the greenbelt issue," says Ron Bonnett, OFA president, as
relations with Liberals plunge to new low.
Relations between the Ontario
Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and the provincial government have dropped
to a new low. For the first time in years, the OFA is talking "civil
disobedience." The OFA says it won’t support the
government’s Bill 135, commonly known as Greenbelt legislation for the
Oak Ridges Moraine. The moraine covers part of Durham
and Northumberland counties. "This (issue) is bigger than
the greenbelt legislation," Ron Bonnett, the president of the OFA,
told Farmers Forum. Ontario farmers are facing disastrous
situations because of low crop prices and border difficulties, but the
McGuinty government continues to ignore the industry and its needs. The OFA demanded that government delay imple
Bonnett said the government is pouring on regulatory costs at a time when farm income is shrinking. The OFA supports nutrient management but many farmers are not going to be able to comply with the legislation because they don’t have the money to comply. To add insult to injury, the government is coming out with a fee between $750 and $1,000 for farmers who use irrigation.
In their January meeting, OFA directors will be evaluating their strategy on lobbying government. Bonnett wouldn’t divulge what the OFA will do, but advised farmers to put pressure on MPPs.
The provincial government is making "an effort to erode the viability of Ontario agriculture," said Garry Struthers, communication officer with OFA.
Government silliness and disconnect from reality is becoming more apparent. One Ministry of Agriculture news release before Christmas was headlined: "McGuinty Government marks year of progress."
The agricultural press releases are like the health reports on CBC. If only half of them were true, everyone would become rich and live for 200 years.